Gravity-hinge.



G. E. TOMS & T. P. BLAIR.

GRAVITY HINGE.

.1012. 1,039,2 1 6, Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. TOMS AND THOMAS P. BLAIR, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO SIGMUND FRLEY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

GRAVITY-HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 10, 1912.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

Serial No. 696,404.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, GEORGE E. Tons and THOMAS P. BLAIR, of San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented an Improved Gravity-Hinge, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in gravity hinges which are adapted to pivotally connect relatively movable objects, as a door or gate, to afixed or stationary support, comprising the arrangement of parts and operating devices with the herein described features and advantages, which will cause the door or gate, upon opening, to be slightly raised to clear the floor or other obstructions, and, when fully opened, to remain in position until started in a closing movement, whereupon said operating devices will be actuated by gravity and by the weight of the door or gate, to completely close the same.

WVhile the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes and accomplish the objects of the invention, no limitation is made to the precise structural details herein exhibited, but variations, alterations, and modifications, that conform to and are included within the scope of the claims, may be made to meet the requirements in compliance with advantages of operation, the essence of our invention comprising pivotally associated, companion hinge leaves, having integral and corresponding knuckle parts, a recess being between certain of the adjacent knuckles, lugs in said recess, lifting collars attached to said lugs, and a pintle uniting the co-acting parts, a preferred form of the invention being shown in the accompanying drawings, whereon- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hinge embodying our invention, disclosing the parts in open position, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hinge in closed position, Fig. 3 is a rear edge View of the hinge in closed position, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the hinge leaves with pintle and operating members removed, Fig. 5 is a detail view of the pintle with cap removed, and Fig. 6 is a perspec tive view of an operating member showing the slot for securing to a lug on a hinge leaf.

In the several figures, like reference characters apply to like parts.

Assuming the invention to be embodied in the form illustrated, members 1 and 2 comprise the companion plates or leaves, of which leaf 1 is provided on its inner edge with a hangitudinally arranged knuckle 3, and adjacent thereto, an elongated lug 4, projecting toward the axis of the knuckle. Leaf 2 is provided with a short knuckle 5, and a longer knuckle (i, longitudinally arranged upon the inner edge and at opposite ends of the leaf, and therebetween, an elongated lug 7. Knuckles 3, 5, and 6, are formed for the insertion of pintle 8, which has a reduced and threaded end 9, and a cap 10 screwed thereon, the companion hinge leaves being secured by and pivotally movable upon pintle 8. \Vith said companion leaves mounted in their relative positions, a recess 10 is formed between adjacent knuckles, and companion collars 11 and 12 are mounted therein, said collars having longitudinal slots 13, for engaging with lugs t and 7, which cause said collars to be turned by and in unison with said leaves, and having parts of their engaged ends inclined, forming cams l t and 15 which are in cooperative engagement during the opening and closing of the hinge, causing the hinge leaves to have a longitudinal movement relative to one another. Tapered projections 16 and 17, respectively, on the inner ends of knuckles 3 and (5, set into corresponding sockets in the outer ends of actuating collars 1.1 and 12, thereby bracing and maintaining alinement of the parts.

From the foregoing it may be seen that we have provided a. hinge in which the leaves may be stamped from sheet metal, and in which lifting parts are provided which cooperate to effect a complete closure of the hinge, except when open to the full extent, which will lift the door or gate supported thereby to clear obstructions during the opening and closing thereof, and which will permit the same to rest upon the floor or sill in the closed position. Short flat faces adjoining said cams on the actuating collars, will cause the door or gate to remain open until swung hack suiliciently to bring said cams into engagement, whereupon the weight of the door or gate will force the cam upon one collar to slide upon the cam of the other collar, thereby bringing the door or gate to a closed position.

WVe claim as our invention:

1. In a gravity hinge, a pair of companion hinge leaves, cooperating knuckles on their adjacent edges arranged to form a recess therebetween when said leaves are assembled in their relative positions, a pintle adapted for insertion in said knuckles to hingedly and slidably connect said leaves, lugs on the inner edges of said leaves projecting in said recess, collars pivotally mounted on said pintle Within said recess, and provided with longitudinal slots for engagement with said lugs, and cam faces on said collars co-acting to shift said leaves longitudinally upon said pintle when said leaves are turned, substantially as set forth.

2. In a gravity hinge, a pair of companion hinge leaves, cooperating knuckles on the adjacent edges of said leaves arranged to form a recess therebetween when said leaves are assembled, collars mounted in said recess, a pintle adapted for insertion in said leaves and collars to slidably and pivotally connect the same, lugs on said leaves engaging with said collars whereby the collars are rotated in unison with said leaves, inclined co-acting faces on the inner ends of said collars to move the hinge leaves longitudinally relative each to the other when the same are rotated, and tapered projections on the in- I GEORGE E. TOMS. THOMAS P. BLAIR.

In the presence of J. W. MAsTRo, F. M. KEENEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

